White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, on July 4, publicly blasted Dr. Anthony Fauci in an open-ed, while the White House continues to claim that  it is not trying to undermine the renowned infectious disease expert. Fauci has been the face of the White House's coronavirus task force.

Just like every other opinion pieces from top White House officials, the USA Today op-ed was edited and approved by the press office. It doesn't coincide with Trump's claims that he has a very good relationship with Fauci and the White House officials confirmed that he will not be removed.

In the op-ed, Navarro claims that while Fauci has good bedside manner with the public, everything he has interacted with him on has proved to be wrong. Responding to a question about whether or not he listens to Fauci's advice, Navarro said he does by with a lot of skepticism and caution.

Before the op-ed was published, the White House seemed to be adjusting its approach to Fauci, who had a lengthy meeting on July 13 with chief of staff Mark Meadows, after White House officials raised questions about his record in a statement to reporters. During a midday briefing earlier this week, House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said officials gave a direct answer to a direct question, when they released the list of Fauci's statements.

McEnany denied that there is an opposition research which is being dumped to reporters, adding that Trump and Fauci have always had a good working relationship. Still, Navarro has managed to trigger Trump's irritation for Fauci by repeatedly blaming him for doubting the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine.

While several studies showed hydroxychloroquine wasn't effective in treating a COVID-19 patient, Navarro told Fauci that it turns out that the medication, which is primarily used to prevent and treat malaria, could also treat coronavirus, he would be personally responsible. Fauci, who is slated to attend a coronavirus task force meeting on July 15, seemed to acknowledge how that tension has caused mixed messaging while speaking at a Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service event earlier this week.

Trump has slammed Fauci, everytime his advice goes against the president's political or economic agenda. He even described Fauci's concern over a swift reopening of businesses in May as surprising and unacceptable, and even ignored Fauci's warning towards reopening schools.

Trump retweeted messages that accused his own public health officials of misleading the public about not reopening the school to prevent the spread of COVID-19. He retweeted messages from former game show host Chuck Woolery who said the CDC, media, democrats, and even doctors were lying.